Land mine



Amig 24 i945. P. J. M. R. DELALANDE 2,33%79 LAND MINEA Filed July 19, 1940 Zafjlyde Patented Apr. 24, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAND MINE Application July 19, 1940, Serial No. 346,441

(Ci. 1oz-s) 13 Claims.

This invention relates to land mines for military use and more particularly to small mines which may be easily and quickly laid and camouiiaged in the expected path of advancing enemy troops or raiding parties. While the invention will be hereinafter described with relation to such a type of mine, it is to be understood that many of the features are applicable to large mines for use against tanks and other vehicles without material modification.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple and practical mine of the above character which will be light in weight and which may be easily and quickly laid and eectively concealed.

Another object is to provide a reliable mine which will be highly effective in use, as well as one which may be inexpensively manufactured and easily transported to the place of installation.

Another object is to provide a land mine which will be safe to handle and may be installed without special tools or unusual skill.

A further object is to provide a land mine which has a wide range of effectiveness and use, and which will be fired from a wide area of approach.

A further object of the invention is to provide a land mine which may be made in a variety of sizes to receive standard ammunition of corresponding size according to the use to which the mine is to be put.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawings and in part hereinafter indicated in connection with the following analysis of this invention.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of parts, and in the unique relation of the members and in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof, all as more completely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art fully to comprehend the underlying features of this invention that they may embody the same by the numerous modifications' in structure and relation contemplated thereby, a drawing depicting a preferred form of the invention has been annexed as part of this disclosure, and in such drawing like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all of the views, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical elevational view largely in section, showing the complete mine in operative or laid position;

Fig. 2I is a similar section of a modied base; and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a modified firing means.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail, and particularly to Fig. 1, the numeral l indicates a container preferably of sheet metal by reason of its strength and water-tightness. This casing is tubular and is provided at its lower end with a strong, substantial base 2, preferably a metallic casting in order to withstand -rough handling. The upper part of the casing is closed by a hanged cap 3 of any desired type but preferably one having a snug fit with the tubular casing I. Interposed between the cover 3 and the casing is a water-tight packing'or gasket l designed to prevent seepage of water into the mine casing after the casing has been buried in the ground.

The cover is secured in any desired manner but preferably by means of a resilient wire catch 5 which extends across the top of the casing, then downwardly and laterally at an vangle as .indicated to engage diametrically opposite ears or lugs 6 on the casing. This form 'of connection is desirable as it is adapted weakly to hold the cover in place-yet permit easy removal thereof when the mine is expelled. However, it must be sufciently strong to hold the parts in `position under all normal circumstances.

The base 2 is provided with an upwardly extending annular iiange adapted to be engaged by a cylindrical sheet metal supporting plate 1, the downwardly .extending flange of which coacts with the flange on the base as clearly ,shown in Fig. l to provide a snug-fit.` Upon this plate 'l is also mounted a boss 8 having an upwardly extending threaded portion which is adapted to coact with the pointed end of a projectile after the fuse has been removed. The boss 8 supports the booster burning powder compound and the detonator as later described Connected with the lower central part of the.

base 2 is. a tubular member 9 which extends downwardly and then up one side of the mine casing, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, and is adapted to contain a pyrotechnic compound lll which may be ordinary black powder, for example. In other words, any suitable compound which will burn easily and rapidly and create a large amount of gas without exploding is satisfactory.

The explosive projectile Vis indicated at Il as shown in Fig, 1 andis preferably an ordinary projectile such as used in a mm. or 8l mm. mortar or in a mm. gun. In fact, rejected projectileswhich-have failed to pass inspection tests for use in cannons or mortars would be suitable. It is merely necessary to unscrew the fuse, that is, the point of the projectile, whereupon the pro- 'same as disclosed in Fig. l. however. while stronger and better adapted to jectile may be screwed on the threaded boss 8 of the supporting plate.

At the upper end of the ash tube 9 is positioned a trigger mechanism for initiating the operation of the mine. This trigger mechanism as herein shown comprises a tubular casing I2 having a swiveled top or head I3, a draw bolt I4, and a safety latch I5. Within this' swivel'ed head there is positioned. a vertically movable firing pin I6 heid in retracted position against the action of iiring spring I6' by means of the draw bolt I'4`. Immediately below the firing pin is a detonator I1 mounted in the screw-threaded member I3 adapted to be engaged by the iirin-g pin I6 when the pull bolt I4 has been extractedby means or a Wire or lanyard I 9.'

It will thus be seen that on removal ofthe draw bolt I4 the firing pin I6 will initiate the ejection i of the mine by means of the detonator IT and.4

combustible compound. I0 which generates suicient gas in the chamber below the supporting plate I to eject the projectile against' the securing means of the cover 3. Y

The mechanism above described is of the pull type but obviously the mine may'be :tired by other mechanisms such as the push type shown. in Fig. 3. This trigger mechanism may be screwed into the top of a pipe or flash tube 9 by means of the threaded connection 3| (Fig. 3'). The lower en'd of the tube 32 supports a pedal: mechanism 33 having a tubular part 34 telescoping within the casing 32'. Within the central part of this tubular memberv is a compression spring 35 reacting against a rin'g pinv 36 which isA held in raised position by means of spring 31 in the lower part' of the tubular member 32. A ball 3:8 coacts with recesses` in the firing pin' 36, the sleeve 34, and the outer casing 32 in a well known manner. Thus, when thev pedal- 33 is depressed, the firing pin 35iwith the ball 33 is carried downwardly against the resistance of spring 3T untill the ball comes opposite an opening 39' whereupon it moves laterally to allow the firing pin to be driven downwardly by the spring 35'- against a detonator 40. This detonator ignites the combustible compound IIl' in the flash tube 9 as abovev described and shown in Fig. l..

The base and flashv tubeV arrangement as' described in l is preferable by reason of its simplicity, ease of assembly, andl inexpensiveness in manufacture. A modified form, however, is shown in Fig; 2, in which thel base member 42 is madein one part with arr-upwardly extending opening I3 and a sidel opening 44 on its upper side connected with the bottom of the ash tube 9. The remaining portions of the mine' are the This arrangement,

withstand shocks and handling', nevertheless is heavier and more expensive by reason of the special coresand molds required to` cast this base plate. 4

The preferred manner of using the mine is to bury the san-ie'V in the ground just below the surface and to cover the same with grass or leaves to prevent notice of the pull wires 5. Itv is obvious, however, that it is applicable toother uses, particularly in basement windows of buildings, where it is pla-ced horizontally and ejects the bomb laterally on actuation of a pull' wire. Also, with the form of trigger mechanism shown in Fig. 3, the device is operable along roads or paths traveledy by troops or vehicles. If the mine is made in a larger size, that is', adapted' to hold a ve or six inch projectile, for example, it would be particularly suitable for anti-tank defense.

In describing the preferred method of use, it should be borne in mind that the device shown in the accompanying drawing is approximately full-size for a 60 mm. bomb, and the total height or length is not over ten inches. Thus large quantities couldl be easily carried or transported to the placeof use. Usually, a spade-full of earth will permit planting of the mine which is pressed into position by reason of the presser plate 23 which also acts as a recoil plate when the mine is ejected. The dirt is then lled in around and over' the mine` and the'safety latch I 5 is unhooked and swung laterally as shown in Fig. 1. One or more pull wires' IB connected at one end of the latch are spread out in various directions likely to be traversed by advancing troops or raiding parties. The end of each wire I9 may be provided. with a tethering pin 24, slightly larger than a lead pencil, as it is not always easy'to' find atree or' bush to which thev pull end of the wire I9 can be secured. WhenA in this position the wire, which is almost invisible inthe grass or leaves, is very easily engaged bythe foot of a. passing soldier, and' a slight pull upon this wire I9 will extract' the' draw bolt I4 from the top of the swiveled head I3. The opening supporting this pin is preferably :flared at its outer end so that there will be less danger of the bolt sticking or binding after it is removed from engagement withl the iiring pin I5". It is important to have this head f3 swivel in the crimped end of the tube 9 about the flange' at the bottom of the head I3 as at 25 so that it will turn in the direction of pull, for obviously if it were not swiveled and the pull wire extended towards the left from` the numeral I4, as shown in Fig. l, were engaged, then any amount of pull upon this wire would not extract the bolt.

As soon as the firing pin engages the detonator, the combustible charge I'Il is ignited and. the

flash passes into the chamber above the base 2 and forcibly ejects the projectile II through the top of the' casing, irrespective of its closure. The detonator 20 is preferably of time fuse composition, requiring from one-fifth to one-quarter of a second' before it ignites the booster 2I. which explodes the main charge normally located in chamber 22 within the projectile. By this. time the projectile has been forced upwardly to a height of from two to four lfeet where it explodes with great force, primarily in a lateral direction, to scatter splinters through an area at least sixty feet in diameter. Thus a series of these mines may be placed across a field at intervals of about one hundred feet and also in rows a hundred feet apart, thereby making the field practically impassable for advancing troops without great danger. The mines have also been discovered to bel of great use in the protection of trenches and Sentry stations against raiding parties, for it is almost impossible for the raiders to crawl, especially by night, between these mines, if properly. placed, without exploding one or more of the mines. y

It will thus be seen that the invention is a highlyl reliable and eicient weapon which may be inexpensively manufactured and assembled. It may be installed by unskilled labor with reasonable safety or, in other words, is substantially foolproof.

Without further analysis, the foregoingy will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others,

can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt 'it for various applications Without omitting cer- 'tics of the generic or specic aspects of thisin- Y vention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended Within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A land mine of the character described comprsing a casing with a top closure adapted to be concealed, an explosive shell positioned within said casing, ejector means for said shell at the base of the casing and trigger mechanism for said ejector means, said trigger mechanism including a tube connecting with the base oi said casing at one end, a.V swiveled head on the upper end of said tube, a firing pin in said tube, a

detonator to be engaged thereby when said pin is released, and means for releasing said firing pin from a relatively remote distance including a wire adapted to extend in any direction, which, when tensioned, will cause the head to turn to- 'wards the direction of pull on the wire and then release the ring pin, thereby to initiate the ejection of the shell.

2. A land mine of the character described comprising a casing, a cover therefor, and a manually operable quick acting means for holding said cover in place in a substantially water-tight condition, said casing being provided with a substantial recessed base, and a supporting plate immediately above said base having a threaded boss and an ordinary projectile having a threaded fuse opening screwed on said boss.

3. A land mine of the character described comprising a casing adapted' to hold an explosive projectile, and means for ejecting the projectile from the casing including an external flash tube adjacent said casing and connected therewith a combustible gas-forming mixture which, when ignited., forces out vthe projectile from the casing, a detonator for igniting said mixture through said tube. and mechanical trigger mechanism for exploding the detonatorl said trigger mechanism including a head, and a pull wire leading therefrom.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3, in which the major part of the iiash tube between the trigger mechanism and the base of the casing is spaced from but substantially parallel to the casing.

' 5. A. device as set forth in claim 3, in which said flash tube is connected to the upper side of the base of the casing.

' 6. A land mine of the character described comprising a casing adapted to hold an explosive projectile, and means for ejecting the projectile including a flash tube outside of and parallel to the casing and communicating with the lower part of the casing adapted to contain a combustible gas-forming mixture which, when ignited, will expel the projectile, a detonator therefor in said tube, and trigger mechanism for the detonator, said trigger mechanism in-' cluding a presser member adapted to be depressed by foot or vehicle, and a ring pin adapted to...

be released when said member is depressed for igniting the explosive mixture.

7. A land mine of the character described adapted to be buried just beneath theground level comprising a substantially cylindrical casing having a base adapted to hold an ordinary projectile, a presser plate mounted on the casing above the base extending laterally therefrom adapted to take up the recoil when the projectile is ejected, an external tube positioned substantially parallel to but outside of the casing and terminating at one end at the base of the casing, and mechanical trigger mechanism at; the opposite and upper end of said tube approximately at ground level.

8. A land mine as set forth in claim '7, in which the trigger mechanism includes in said tube a detonator and a firing pin adapted to coact therewith, and a gas-producing mixture within said external tube adapted to be ignited by said detonator for ejecting the projectile.

9. A land mine of the character described adapted to be buried just beneath the ground level comprising a substantially cylindrical casing having a base adapted to hold an ordinary projectile, a presser plate mounted on the casing above the base extending laterally therefrom adapted to take up the recoil when the projectile is ejected, an external tube positioned substantially parallel to but outside of the casing and terminating at one end at the base of the casing, and mechanical trigger mechanism at the opposite and upper end of said tube approximately at ground level, the said trigger mechanism including a detonator, a ring pin therefor adapted to be manually released, a cord or the like for actuating said pin and a head on said tube carrying the firing pin and its release mechanism.

l0. A land mine of the character described comprising a substantially water-tight generally cylindrical casing having a base and adapted to hold an explosive projectile, means for ejecting the projectile through one end of said casing mixture which when ignited generates gas to eject the projectile from the casing, a detonator in said iiash tube for igniting said combustible gas forming mixture, and mechanical trigger mechanism for exploding the detonator, said trigger mechanism including a head and a pull wire leading therefrom.

l1. A land mine of the character described comprising a substantially cylindrical casing having a base and adapted to hold an explosive projectile, means for ejecting the projectile through one end of said casing including an extern-al iiash tube adjacent to and substantially parallel to said casing and connected to the base of said casing, a combustible gas forming mixture which when ignited generates gas to eject the projectile from thecasing, a detonator in said flash tube for igniting said combustible gas forming mixture, and mechanical trigger mechanism for exploding the detonator.

12. A land mine of the character described comprising a substantially water-tight casing having a base and adapted to hold an explosive projectile, means for ejecting the projectile from said casing including an external flash tubead-` jacent to and substantially parallel to said casing and connected therewith, a combustible gas forming mixture which when ignited generates gas to eject the projectile from the casing, a detonator in said flash tube for igniting said combustible gas forming mixture, and mechanical trigger mechanism for exploding the detonator, said trigger mechanism including a presser member adapted to be depressed by foot or vehicle, and a ring pin adapted to be released when said mernber is depressed for engaging said -detonator and ignting the explosive mixture'.

13. A land mine of the character described comprising a substantially Water-tight generally cylindrical casing having a base and adapted to v hold an explosive projectile, means for ejecting the projectile through one end of said casing including an external flashtube adjacent to and substantially parallel to said casing and con- -mechanical trigger mechanism for exploding the detonator.y

PAUL J. M. R. DELALANDE. 

